AN ACT CLARIFYING REQUIREMENTS FOR MEETINGS OF BOARDS OF
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS;
PROVIDING THAT THE PRESENCE OF A QUORUM OF MEMBERS DOES NOT
CONSTITUTE A MEETING
IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS; AMENDING SECTION 7-5-2122, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN
IMMEDIATE
EFFECTIVE DATE.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF
MONTANA:

Section
1. Section 7-5-2122, MCA, is amended to
read:

"7-5-2122. Meetings of board of county commissioners. (1) The
governing body of theboard of county
commissioners of a county shall establish by resolution a regular meeting date and notify
the public of that date.

(2)
Except as provided in subsection (3) or in the event of an emergency situation under 2-3-112
affecting
the public health, welfare, or safety, all meetings must be held on the date designated in
subsection (1) and at
the county seat of the board's county.

(2)(3)The governing
body of the county, except as may be otherwise required of them, may meet at the
county seat of their respective counties at any time for the purpose of attending to county
business.
CommissionersThe board may, by
resolution and priorhaving provided at least 2 days' posted public
notice,in accordance with 7-1-2123, designate another
meeting time andor place.

(4)
The presence of a quorum of members of the board at an event or meeting of another entity or
organization or traveling in the same vehicle does not constitute a meeting of the board as long as
no issues
over which the commission has supervision, control, jurisdiction, or advisory power are
discussed or heard.
County business may only be conducted during a meeting as defined in 2-3-202 for which notice
has been
properly given.

(5) If
a quorum of commissioners is present at an event or meeting or is traveling in the same vehicle
when
it was not possible to provide public notice under 7-1-2123, and issues over which the
commission has
supervision, control, jurisdiction, or advisory power are discussed or heard, the commissioners
present shall
provide a report at the commission's next regularly scheduled public meeting. The report must
include the name
of the event or meeting, the name of the persons involved, the date and location of the event or
meeting, and
a brief summary of the issues discussed or heard. If the commissioners' presence at the unnoticed
meeting or
event is reasonably expected to precipitate ensuing consideration of any issue by the board of
county
commissioners, details associated with the issue discussed or heard must also be included in the
report."